Elder Bush says son's challenge most difficult in decades

ST. LOUIS -- Former President George Bush said Saturday he thinks the war on terrorism that his son is fighting is the biggest problem any president has confronted in decades.

"It's far bigger than what I had to face. It's far more complicated," said Bush, whose 1988-1992 term in the White House included a war against Iraq.

Bush spoke briefly to reporters in St. Louis before attending a fund raiser for U.S. Senate candidate Jim Talent, a Republican seeking the seat currently held by Jean Carnahan. Carnahan, who was appointed to the Senate after her husband, then-Gov. Mel Carnahan, won election posthumously last year, has not yet declared her candidacy.

The former president was to speak at the fund raiser, held at the Millenium Hotel downtown. Talent, a former four-term congressman, narrowly lost the governor's race last year to Democrat Bob Holden.

Bush said the ground war in Aghanistan is going far better than critics were saying just a week ago. He said he speaks often with his son but is not advising him on what decisions to make.

The elder Bush said he thinks those who criticized his son previously are now realizing they have a strong leader.

"Now they see what we've known all along," he said.